2025 County Monaghan Volunteer Awards Launched

Monaghan Volunteer Centre and Monaghan Integrated Development launched the 2025 Co. Monaghan Volunteers Awards on Monday 11th August. The launch event took place at Monaghan Town Courthouse and was attended by Patrick Caldwell – 2024 Volunteer of the Year , Emily Healy – Regional Manager for Victim Support in Court, and Sinéad Keenan – Monaghan Volunteer Centre Coordinator.

It was a chance for Volunteer Centre staff to catch up with Patrick and hear about his most recent voluntary activities with the “Victim Support in Court” programme. Patrick supports crime victims who need to attend courts in Monaghan and Cavan by explaining court procedures, arranging a private space to wait and providing crucial emotional support during a very stressful time.

Now in its 18th year, the County Monaghan Volunteer Awards celebrate the extraordinary contributions of volunteers and voluntary organisations across the county. This year, nominations are invited in four categories:

1. Volunteer of the Year

2. Lifetime Achievement and

3. The Volunteer Team Award.

4. The Volunteer Group Award

The awards aim to recognise both long standing volunteers and those new to volunteering. We warmly welcome nominations from all corners of County Monaghan.

This year’s winners will be announced at a special awards ceremony on Sunday 12th October in the Íontas Theatre, Castleblayney. All nominees will be invited to attend and have their contributions honoured.

Since their inception in 2007, the County Monaghan Volunteer Awards have recognised volunteers from a wide range of causes, including sports clubs, heritage groups, disability services, older people’s initiatives, and more.

If you are part of a community or voluntary organisation, nominating a volunteer is a wonderful way to show appreciation for their dedication and impact.

Introducing the Volunteer Team of the Year Award

This year sees the introduction of the new Volunteer Team of the Year Award, which recognises two or more individuals who volunteer together regularly within the same organisation. This award shines a spotlight on the power of teamwork in volunteering and the collective impact of volunteers who support each other and their community in a shared setting.

The Volunteer Group of the Year Award, by contrast, is designed to honour an organisation that demonstrates excellence in how it recruits, retains and manages volunteers, while also delivering a strong benefit to the wider community. If several individuals volunteer together but are not involved in the running of the organisation, they should be nominated for the Team Award instead of the Group Award.

Awards and Prizes

• Each category winner will receive a perpetual trophy, a plaque, and a prize to the value of €250.
• Individual winners will nominate a group they volunteer with to receive the prize funds.
• All nominees will receive a certificate of recognition.

You can nominate a volunteer in one of the following ways:

1. Online – Complete your nomination here: Online Form
2. PDF Form – Download the nomination form and rules: PDF Nomination Form
3. Request a form – Contact Eoin Treanor at 087 369 3989 or eoin@volunteermonaghan.ie to have a form emailed or posted to you.

We encourage nominators to use the online or email options where possible. Please note, nominations close on Friday 12th September at 5:00pm.

Tip for nominators:

Judging is based on the information you provide in the form, so be sure to paint a full and compelling picture of your nominee’s contribution.

Winners of the County Monaghan Awards will be automatically nominated for the Volunteer Ireland Awards, and the public can also submit nominations directly to the national competition. Learn more at VI Awards